Method and system for delivering wireless messages and information to personal computing devices

Abstract

A method and system for pushing information to personal computing and communication devices operated by users in such a way that the users can use and/or act upon the information even when the users are off-network or off-line. The method and system also automatically “provisions” the personal computing and communication devices so that the devices may be used to act upon the information that is pushed to the devices.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of wirelessly delivering information comprising the steps of: 
       receiving information from a sender that is destined for a recipient;  
       conditioning the information so that it can be more easily delivered to the recipient;  
       storing the information in a queue until a computing and communication device operated by the recipient is in communication with a wireless communication service provider; and  
       provisioning the computing and communication device by pushing the information as well as all applications needed to act upon the information to the computing and communication device when the computing and communication device is in communication with the wireless communication service provider so that the recipient may continue to use the information even when the computing and communication device is no longer in communication with the wireless communication service provider.  
     
     
       2. The method as set forth in  claim 1 , the provisioning step further including the steps of: 
       receiving from the computing and communication device an indication of what applications are needed to act upon the information; and  
       pushing to the computer and communication device the applications.  
     
     
       3. The method as set forth in  claim 1 , the information including at least one of the following: dispatch information, calender information, search request, location information software, and software upgrades. 
     
     
       4. The method as set forth in  claim 1 , the computing and communication device including one of the following: a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, a laptop computer, and an intelligent wireless phone. 
     
     
       5. The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sender is a company wishing to deliver information to employees, suppliers, or customers. 
     
     
       6. The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the recipient is an employee, supplier or customer of the company. 
     
     
       7. The method as set forth in  claim 1 , the provisioning step further including the step of automatically loading the information into appropriate software applications on the computing and communication device. 
     
     
       8. The method as set forth in  claim 1 , the conditioning step including the steps of: 
       creating a unique ID number for the information;  
       converting the information to transmittable strings of data; and  
       parsing the information into a series of message packets.  
     
     
       9. A computer system for wirelessly delivering information, the system being operable to: 
       receive information from a sender that is destined for a recipient;  
       condition the information so that it can be more easily delivered to the recipient;  
       store the information in a queue until a computing and communication device operated by the recipient is in communication with a wireless communication service provider; and  
       provision the computing and communication device by pushing the information as well as all applications needed to act upon the information to the computing and communication device when the computing and communication device is in communication with the wireless communication service provider so that the recipient may continue to use the information even when the computing and communication device is no longer in communication with the wireless communication service provider.  
     
     
       10. The system as set forth in  claim 9 , the system being further operable to: 
       receive from the computing and communication device an indication of what applications are needed to act upon the information; and  
       push to the computer and communication device the applications.  
     
     
       11. The system as set forth in  claim 9 , the information including at least one of the following: dispatch information, calender information, search request, location information software, and software upgrades. 
     
     
       12. The system as set forth in  claim 9 , the computing and communication device including one of the following: a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, a laptop computer, and an intelligent wireless phone. 
     
     
       13. The system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the sender is a company wishing to deliver information to employees, suppliers, or customers. 
     
     
       14. The system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the recipient is an employee, supplier or customer of the company. 
     
     
       15. The system as set forth in  claim 9 , the system being further operable to automatically load the information into appropriate software applications on the computing and communication device. 
     
     
       16. The system as set forth in  claim 9 , the system being further operable to: 
       create a unique ID number for the information;  
       convert the information to transmittable strings of data; and  
       parse the information into a series of message packets.  
     
     
       17. A method of wirelessly delivering information comprising the steps of: 
       receiving information from a sending computing device that is destined for a computing and communication device operated by a recipient;  
       conditioning the information so that it can be more easily delivered to the recipient;  
       sending the information to a wireless communication service provider that is capable of communication with the computing and communication device operated by the recipient; and  
       provisioning the computing and communications device by pushing the information as well as all applications needed to act upon the information to the computing and communications device when the computing and communications device is in communication with the wireless communication service provider so that the recipient may continue to use the information even when the computing and communications device is no longer in communication with the wireless communication service provider.  
     
     
       18. The method as set forth in  claim 17 , the provisioning step further including the steps of: 
       receiving from the computing and communications device an indication of what applications are needed to act upon the information; and  
       pushing the applications to the computing and communications device.  
     
     
       19. A computer system for wirelessly delivering information, the system being operable to: 
       receive information from a sending computing device that is destined for a computing and communication device operated by a recipient;  
       conditioning the information so that it can be more easily delivered to the recipient;  
       sending the information to a wireless communication service provider that is capable of communication with the computing and communication device operated by the recipient; and  
       provisioning the computing and communications device by pushing the information as well as all applications needed to act upon the information to the computing and communications device when the computing and communications device is in communication with the wireless communication service provider so that the recipient may continue to use the information even when the computing and communications device is no longer in communication with the wireless communication service provider.  
     
     
       20. The system as set forth in  claim 19 , the system being further operable to: 
       receive from the computing and communications device an indication of what applications are needed to act upon the information; and  
       push the applications to the computing and communications device.  
     
     
       21. The method as set forth in  claim 1 , the information including at least one of the following: calender information, search request, location information software, and software upgrades. 
     
     
       22. The system as set forth in  claim 9 , the information including at least one of the following: calender information, search request, location information software, and software upgrades. 
     
     
       23. A method of wirelessly delivering information comprising the steps of: 
       receiving information from a sending computing device that is destined for a computing and communication device operated by a recipient;  
       sending the information to the computing and communication device through a terrestrial-based wireless communication service provider;  
       automatically determining in the computing and communication device what applications are needed to act upon the information, without intervention by the recipient, without intervention by the sending computing device, and without intervention by the service provider;  
       receiving from the computing and communications device an indication of what applications are needed to act upon the information; and  
       pushing the applications needed to act upon the information, as determined by the computing and communications device, to the computing and communications device through the service provider.  
     
     
       24. The method as set forth in  claim 23 , further including the step of conditioning the information so that it can be more easily delivered to the recipient. 
     
     
       25. The method as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the wireless communication service provider operates a network selected from the group consisting of a PCS network, a ReFLEX network, an Advanced Radio Data Network, and a cellular network. 
     
     
       26. The method as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the computing and communications device is selected from the group consisting of a handheld personal digital assistant, a personal computer, a laptop computer, an intelligent mobile phone, a pager, and an Internet appliance.